Op-ed: Empowering Refugees and the Vital Role of Community-Led Initiatives in Nakivale
Story and photos by Mbilizi Kalombo, Co-founder and Executive Director of KYETE BIINGI TAI NYEME refugee organization in Uganda
The Nakivale Refugee Settlement Camp
Nakivale refugee settlement was established in 1958 and officially recognized as a refugee settlement in 1960 through the Uganda Gazette General Notice (no. 19). It is the 8th largest refugee settlement in the world, located approximately 200 km away from Kampala, Uganda's capital. It is one of the oldest refugee settlements in Uganda, and it is estimated to cover well beyond 180 square kilometres. This enormous area is geographically divided into three administrative zones – Base camp, Juru, and Rubondo. These three zones, in turn, contain 79 individual villages.
Refugees in Nakivale depend on food given by the World Food Program (WFP) and harvests from land given to them by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to supplement food supplies. But recently, food rations by WFP were reduced, creating a food shortage worsened by the persistent drought experienced in the Isingiro district and soil exhaustion due to limited knowledge of soil management approaches. Since 2023, the communities’ needs have outpaced available resources. Humanitarian operations are now desperately overstretched, forcing many to scale down and further cut support to the most vulnerable.
This has led to malnutrition, anxiety, depression, stunted growth, and increased susceptibility to diseases, especially among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. For example, extreme weather conditions affect people’s livelihoods. In the dry season, the bare land is starved of trees to counter the heat from the harsh sunshine. Plants die, food becomes expensive and many go to bed hungry. In the wet season, rivers and swamps overflow into homes and gardens – causing destruction to houses, assets, and crops, exacerbating diseases such as malaria. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that Uganda, including regions like Nakivale, is experiencing increased climate variability, with adverse impacts on food security and livelihoods.
The above crisis has increased the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Malaria transmission also increases in flooded areas, food insecurity, dependence on external aid, and scarce resources, such as water and arable land.
Through an investigation of the physical, social-economic and policy dynamics in Nakivale Settlement and the surrounding region, a Settlement Profile by UN-Habitat provides recommendations including the need for an alternative model for land and resource management, livelihood generation, investment in infrastructure to allow for pathways to self-reliance and the inclusion of Nakivale settlement in the physical plan for Isingiro and the District Development Plan 2020-2030. The Settlement Profile lists the strategic, socio-economic, environmental and spatial opportunities for the region as well as projected development scenarios which illustrate the impact of continuing ‘business as usual’ compared to pursuing spatial and institutional integration.
To promote soil health in communities, especially vulnerable ones like refugees, some several challenges or gaps need to be addressed
Many community members may lack awareness of soil health principles, sustainable farming practices, and the importance of soil conservation - and have limited access to quality seeds, fertilizers, tools, and equipment needed for sustainable agriculture practices - which hinders efforts to improve soil health. They also lack technical expertise and training in soil testing, composting, crop rotation, and other sustainable agricultural techniques. Insufficient infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and access to markets can constrain efforts to sustainably manage soil and enhance agricultural productivity. Inadequate policy frameworks or institutional support at local, national, and international levels may not prioritize or support initiatives aimed at soil health improvement in vulnerable communities. Communities may face challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, pollution, and climate change impacts, which can adversely affect soil health and agricultural productivity. Cultural practices or social norms may not always align with sustainable land management practices, requiring culturally sensitive approaches to promote soil health. Addressing these gaps requires a holistic approach that includes education and capacity building, access to inputs and resources, policy advocacy, infrastructure development, and community engagement. Collaborative efforts involving governments, NGOs, local organizations, and community leaders are essential to promote sustainable soil management and enhance resilience in vulnerable communities.
Why we use a community-based land management approach
We believe that community members understand their own needs, challenges, and strengths better than outsiders. This intimate knowledge allows can inform initiatives that are more relevant and effective. When communities lead initiatives, they take ownership of the process and outcomes. This empowerment fosters a sense of responsibility and resilience among community members. Local initiatives can also be tailored to respect cultural norms and traditions, making them more likely to be accepted and sustainable over the long term this is because communities often have resources - both tangible (like skills and materials) and intangible (like social networks) - that can be leveraged to address their own issues. Working together on initiatives fosters trust among community members and strengthens social bonds, which are vital during times of crisis or adversity. Overall, community-led initiatives promote sustainable development and resilience by tapping into local strengths and fostering a sense of solidarity and self-reliance.
“We believe that community members understand their own needs, challenges, and strengths better than outsiders.”
Refugees can play a significant role in promoting soil health within their communities, despite facing challenges
Refugees often bring diverse agricultural knowledge and practices from their home countries; they share traditional farming methods that promote soil fertility and conservation with their new communities. Encouraging individuals to contribute their expertise can lead to the development of new solutions for sustainable soil management. These innovative agricultural techniques are usually suited to local conditions, such as drought-resistant crops, agroforestry, or organic farming methods that enhance soil health. Refugees, as active members of their communities, can advocate for policies and practices that prioritize soil conservation and sustainable land management by raising awareness about the importance of soil health among their peers and engaging with stakeholders. Supporting refugee-led agricultural cooperatives or enterprises promotes sustainable farming practices while generating income for refugee households. This economic empowerment contributes to overall community resilience. Therefore, harnessing the knowledge, skills, and resilience of refugee communities can improve soil health, enhance food security, and build sustainable livelihoods in refugee settlements and beyond.
Ways to promote soil health in Nakivale refugee settlement tailored to the local context and needs
Implement workshops and training sessions on sustainable agriculture practices such as composting, organic farming techniques, soil conservation, and water management in collaboration with NGOs, agricultural experts, INGOs, government entities and local authorities.
Provide refugees with access to quality seeds, fertilizers, tools, and equipment needed for sustainable farming practices. This could involve establishing community seed banks, promoting the use of organic inputs, and distributing agricultural kits.
Set up demonstration plots or model farms within the settlement where refugees can learn and adopt best practices in soil management firsthand. These sites can showcase techniques like cover cropping, mulching, and crop rotation.
Support initiatives that enable refugees to market their agricultural products locally and beyond. This not only enhances economic opportunities but also incentivizes sustainable farming practices that improve soil health.
Encourage community participation in planning and implementing soil health projects. This could include forming farmer cooperatives, youth groups focused on agriculture, or women's associations that promote sustainable land management practices.
Engage refugees in environmental conservation efforts such as reforestation, soil erosion control, and watershed management. These activities not only improve soil health but also contribute to overall ecosystem resilience.
Incorporate soil health components into existing livelihood programs, vocational training, and entrepreneurship initiatives. This ensures that soil management skills are integrated into broader efforts to improve refugee livelihoods.
Support research initiatives that explore innovative approaches to soil health improvement in refugee settings. This could involve partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and agricultural experts to develop context-specific solutions.
By leveraging these opportunities, stakeholders can collaborate to enhance soil health in the Nakivale refugee settlement, contributing to food security, environmental sustainability, and the resilience of refugee communities.
My story
I am MBILIZI KALOMBO aged 28, Congolese by Nationality, Resident of Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda, and social worker by profession, serving as the Executive Director of KBTN. I am passionate about improving the standards of living in vulnerable communities as well as joining global environmental activists in climate action.
I am one of the lucky few refugees who received a scholarship to continue beyond secondary school due to my outstanding academic performance in Uganda's Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). I had come to Nakivale Refugee Settlement when I was 9 years old, seeking refuge with my family who were forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo. I was told that my father had inherited a hill of gold from his grandparents who were the gold miners for the rest of their lives in Kamituga, South Kivu province DR Congo which attracted politicians and others seeking to profit from its riches. My family was eventually driven from the place through violence to release our hold on the valuable property, and we made our way to Nakivale. I completed my Primary and Secondary schooling and then a Bachelor’s degree at Victoria University in Kampala. After my bachelor’s degree, I found there is a need to pay back to my own community by elevating the livelihood of many refugees who are living below the poverty line, unable to meet their own minimum basic needs and have become dependant on humanitarian support for their survival.
I discovered that agriculture is the main economic activity that supports the lives of the majority of the refugees in Nakivale, but there are too many setbacks like climate change, poor agricultural management practices, lack of agricultural inputs, and soil infertility due to over-cultivation, etc., all affecting the sector for these vulnerable communities to shift from subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture. I therefore attended the Soil Food Web School, in Oregon state, USA, to understand how best soil structure can be improved to maximize production. As a social worker, I co-founded a refugee-led, community-based organization called KBTN.
About KBTN
KYETE BIINGI TAI NYEME (KBTN) comes from a Congolese dialect and translates as “Shared load is always light.”
On February 15th, 2021 KBTN was officially registered as a refugee-led, community-based organization by Isingiro District local government with a vision of creating an independent, resilient and self-sufficient refugee community in Nakivale which is responsible for protecting and conserving biodiversity, has sufficient agricultural harvests to feed its population and supports a young generation of innovators and change-makers. KBTN engages the entire refugee population in environmental conservation activities, food production, livestock rearing, and vocational training, regardless of one’s nationality, social status, race, or gender.
KBTN was initially supported through private donations from fundraisers organized in collaboration with other diaspora communities. In 2023 KBTN was among the first cohort to win a Refugee-Led Innovation Grant from the UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) Innovation Service; a program designed to improve the lives of displaced people and communities. Funding supported our Seed Program and helped establish our work with youth within the settlement, with a focus on sustainable agriculture and livelihoods. With the funding, we managed to plant 40,000 fruit trees and established 3 community gardens across the settlement’s zones of Nakivale. We supported farmers with more than 10 tons of improved seeds, agricultural tools and equipment and farmer capacity building on different modern agricultural techniques.
With our collaboration with the University of Buffalo Experiential Learning Network (ELN), we conducted a SWOT analysis survey which forced us to solidify the plans to start our version of the ELN through KBTN to be called “Nakivale Experiential Learning and Innovation Center (NELIC).” NELIC introduces youth groups to community innovations and sustainable technologies relevant to the lives of refugees living within and outside Nakivale. We envision hosting speakers and panellists, visiting projects, and conducting interviews as a way to expose the youth groups to possible innovations. But we want to go much further. Like ELN, we want to support engagement and learning through PEARL (Prepare, Engage, Add value, Reflect, and Leverage) digital badges, helping youth prepare through research and skill development, and connecting with mentors who can oversee projects and deliverables. We envision digital badges that give access to start-up funds and other critical resources while enabling the tracking of projects and project leaders, supporting dynamic research and assessment that can help strengthen the program and create a pipeline to jobs and innovation.
CASE STUDY: Working with Smallholder Farmers to Build Soil Health
The Amsha Community Project aims to establish a vibrant green space within Nakivale and the neighbourhood, promoting sustainable practices and fostering community engagement. This initiative addresses food insecurity, enhances local biodiversity, and provides a hub for educational and recreational activities for the multiple ethnicities within Nakivale.
In Nakivale refugee settlements, communal gardens and support with agro-inputs served to smallholder farmers are used as more than just spaces for growing vegetables, they are hubs for community engagement and social cohesion. This case study explores how diverse refugee communities come together in a communal garden, gain skills collectively, and later apply them in their own gardens, fostering a sense of community and self-sufficiency.
The communal gardens featured raised beds, composting areas, a communal gathering space, facilities for educational workshops and support with agro-inputs to 500 refugee households and 100 Ugandan Nationals - especially teenage mothers, widows and single-parent-headed families - in 24 of the most vulnerable communities across Nakivale who were interested in gardening, sustainability, and community-building.
The Objectives were to:
Encourage active participation through gardening, workshops, and events that strengthen social bonds,
Provide opportunities for learning about organic gardening, composting, and environmental stewardship,
Grow fresh produce that supplements local diets and supports healthier eating habits, and
Promote water conservation, organic practices, and biodiversity within a rural setting.
Refugee communities often face challenges such as isolation, lack of employment opportunities, cultural barriers, and soil exhaustion. Communal gardens have emerged as a practical solution to these challenges, offering a space where refugees can build social networks, learn new skills, and engage with their new communities.
The Communal Garden Initiative
In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, KBTN has established three communal gardens with approximately 12 acres which serve as a meeting point for refugees from various backgrounds. It provides a shared space where different communities can come together to cultivate crops, exchange knowledge, and build relationships.
Cultivation Process: Refugee communities participate in every stage of the cultivation process from planning the crops to harvesting them. This collaborative effort allows refugees to learn from one another, share agricultural techniques from their home countries, and develop a sense of ownership over the garden.
Skill Development: Through workshops and hands-on experience, refugees gain practical gardening skills such as planting, watering, pest control, and improvement of soil nutrients. They also learn about sustainable gardening practices that they can apply in their gardens.
Building Social Cohesion: The communal garden serves as a space where refugees build social connections and trust with each other and with members of the broader community. As they work side by side, barriers between different refugee groups begin to dissolve, and friendships are formed.
Transition to Individual Gardens: Equipped with the skills and confidence gained from the communal garden, refugees cultivate their gardens in their homes or allocated plots. This transition empowers them to become more self-sufficient and contributes to their integration into the local community.
Impact and Outcomes
Social Integration: Over 8 different Refugee Nationalities in 24/79 communities feel more connected to each other and the broader community.
Skill Development: More than 550 refugee households gain valuable agricultural skills that improve their food security and agronomic practices
Empowerment: 300 Refugee households become more self-sufficient by growing their produce, and reducing their reliance on external support.
In conclusion, the communal garden initiative has proven to be a successful model for promoting social cohesion among refugee communities. By providing a space for collective learning and skill development, the garden has empowered refugees to become more self-reliant while fostering a sense of community and belonging. This case study demonstrates the importance of communal gardens in supporting the integration of refugees into their new communities.
Key Messages
Community-led initiatives are a collaborative effort to create a sustainable, inclusive space where residents can learn, grow, and connect with each other. We invite stakeholders from all sectors to join us in cultivating a healthier, more resilient community.
Communities possess intimate knowledge of their own needs, resources, and challenges. This local knowledge allows initiatives to be tailored specifically to address these factors, making them more effective and sustainable. By involving community members in decision-making and implementation processes, initiatives ensure that diverse perspectives are considered. This inclusivity fosters ownership and commitment among participants, leading to greater long-term success.
Empowering communities to take charge of their own development builds self-reliance. Instead of relying solely on external aid or solutions, communities learn to harness their strengths and resources to create sustainable improvements which are often more adaptable to changing circumstances and local dynamics. This flexibility enables them to respond quickly to emerging needs or unexpected challenges
A Call to Action
Raise awareness about the existence and importance of refugee-led initiatives. Recognize the unique perspectives and strengths that refugees bring to their communities
Provide financial support, grants, or access to resources such as training, networking opportunities, and capacity-building programs tailored to refugee-led organizations.
Foster partnerships between refugee-led initiatives and local organizations, governments, and international agencies to leverage resources, expertise, and networks.
Advocate for policies that empower refugees to lead and participate in decision-making processes affecting their lives and communities.
Amplify the voices of refugee leaders and organizations through media, storytelling, and public platforms to showcase their contributions and impact.
Commit to sustained support and engagement, recognizing that meaningful change requires long-term investment and collaboration
The Role of Stakeholders in Supporting Refugee-Led Initiatives
Stakeholders can play a crucial role in supporting refugee-led initiatives by providing various forms of support and collaboration. Stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, foundations, and private donors, can provide funding through grants, donations, or investments to sustain and expand refugee-led initiatives.
Offer training, mentoring, and technical assistance to strengthen the organizational capacity and leadership skills of refugee-led organizations.
Facilitate partnerships between refugee-led initiatives and other stakeholders such as local governments, businesses, academic institutions, and civil society organizations can create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization.
Stakeholders should advocate for policies that recognize and support the contributions of refugees, promote their rights, and create an enabling environment for refugee-led initiatives to thrive by providing access to resources such as infrastructure, technology, legal support, and healthcare services that can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of refugee-led initiatives which can encourage inclusivity and diversity within stakeholder organizations and initiatives can foster a more supportive and empowering environment for refugee-led initiatives.
For more information
Contact:
Mbilizi Kalombo, Co-Founder & Executive Director
mbilizikalombo@kbtn.org
mbilizikalombo123@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +256 779 092 464
LinkedIn: MBILIZI KALOMBO
